Cochineal: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ฅ
cochineal
[ หkษtสษชnษชl ]
food coloring
Cochineal is a red dye derived from the cochineal insect, primarily used in food products, cosmetics, and textiles. The dye is produced by crushing the dried bodies of the female cochineal beetle, which are native to Central and South America. It is known for its vibrant color and is often labeled as carmine or E120 in ingredient lists. Cochineal is widely valued for being a natural colorant, although it can cause allergic reactions in some people.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- She checked the ingredients for cochineal before buying the yogurt.
- Many companies now use cochineal as a natural food coloring.
- Cochineal gives the red hue to many popular candies.
Translations
Translations of the word "cochineal" in other languages:
๐ต๐น cochonilha
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเฅเคเคฟเคจเฅเคฒ
๐ฉ๐ช Cochenille
๐ฎ๐ฉ cochineal
๐บ๐ฆ ะบะพัะธะฝัะปั
๐ต๐ฑ koszenila
๐ฏ๐ต ใณใใใผใซ
๐ซ๐ท cochenille
๐ช๐ธ cochinilla
๐น๐ท koลinil
๐ฐ๐ท ์ฝ์น๋์
๐ธ๐ฆ ูุดุฑ ุงูุฎููุณุงุก
๐จ๐ฟ dลevokaz
๐ธ๐ฐ cochinila
๐จ๐ณ ่ญ่่ซ
๐ธ๐ฎ koฤinila
๐ฎ๐ธ kรณkinell
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะบะพัะธะฝะตะปั
๐ฌ๐ช แแแฌแแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ koรงinil
๐ฒ๐ฝ cochinilla
Etymology
The word 'cochineal' comes from the Spanish term 'cochinilla', which refers to the small scale insects collected primarily in Mexico and South America. These insects have been harvested for centuries, dating back to the Aztec empire, where they were used to produce a vibrant red dye for textiles and art. The use of cochineal as a dye spread to Europe during the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, where it became highly sought after for its brilliant color and fastness. The English term 'cochineal' was adopted in the late 16th century, derived from the Spanish and ultimately tracing its roots back to the Latin word 'coccinus', meaning scarlet. Today, cochineal is still used in various industries, although synthetic dyes have largely supplanted it due to cost concerns and ethical considerations regarding the use of insects.
Word Frequency Rank
At rank #28,802, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.
- ...
- 28799 oddest
- 28800 cudgel
- 28801 pastiche
- 28802 cochineal
- 28803 explicated
- 28804 extortionate
- 28805 gladdened
- ...